ILLEGAL PARKING IN SENNETT ESTATE (Enforcement action)

Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether he will step up enforcement action against illegal parking along Mulberry Avenue, Jalan Wangi and Angsana Avenue in Sennett Estate.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Sir, there has been occasional illegal parking along these roads. Many of the offenders live or patronise the shops and eating places in the vicinity. Police has stepped up enforcement action against the offenders. From January to September 1998, Police issued 34 summons, as compared to 27 for the whole of last year. In the meantime, Police has been working with the Land Transport Authority to improve the situation.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, does the Police realise that the cause of this illegal parking is due to the many eating shops there? Does the Police want to liaise with the Ministry of the Environment to try to limit the number of shops?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: The shops are there and they are privately owned. So they cannot be relocated. But certainly, we will work with, for example, the grassroots leaders and LTA to ensure that the cars there are properly parked. I think these measures are being looked into.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Is his Ministry willing to open up more car parks in that area?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Yes, this is one of the proposals being studied.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Can he elaborate on this new car park that is going to be built?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: As I said, the proposals are being looked at. For example, the possibility of locating some car park lots along the service road off MacPherson Road. It is quite nearby, so that the patrons who want to use the shops there will not clog up Jalan Wangi, Mulberry Avenue and Angsana Avenue area. It is a bit further away but it is still within walking distance to the shops.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Is the Minister aware that there is a disused building, which is the former Sennett Community Centre, and is he opening up that area for a car park?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: This is the former grassroots' club which will be used, I believe, by the Potong Pasir CC temporarily for the next 1 1/2 -2 years. So it cannot be done for the moment.

Mr Speaker: Mr Chiam, would you like to ask the next question?

Mr Chiam See Tong: Question No.11, Sir.